By the time you read this folks from around the world will be preparing for another photokina event, the every-two-year photo fair held in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, photokina has been the place where companies strut their latest product stuff and show new technology that may, or may not change the game in the years ahead. Increasingly, some companies are showcasing products and developments according to their own schedule, and not strictly waiting for gatherings like photokina, so we do have some indications of the headliners at the show now. These include a new full-frame chip with enhanced megapixel counts from Sony, a convergence DSLR from Nikon, and enhanced web imaging opportunities from companies such as Microsoft. Plus, now hold your applause, we are going to see a new digital camera format. All of this points to an expansion of the photo industry and changes that will make today’s “normal” seem old hat. We are about to see an explosion of the consumer base that will include more than the “traditional” enthusiast seeking the latest megapixel count camera and tricky new features. We are now entering into realms that could only be explored thanks to the worldwide web.
Chip Chat
First to the news that everyone knows–the unveiling of the new Sony Alpha pro model DSLR. Shown as a prototype at PMA, this 24 megapixel camera will rock the world of high-end photographers with its medium-format like sensor and souped-up image processor. All manufacturers of DSLRs know that offering a full line of products, from “inexpensive” DSLRs that meld point-and-shoot convenience with advanced technology and interchangeable lenses, allows for step-ups, and Sony is taking this trend to its next logical conclusion. Now that Nikon has joined the “full frame” ranks, will others, aisde from Canon who is already well into the game, follow suit? The likes of Phase One, Leaf, Hasselblad and others are pushing and will continue to push the super-megapixel realm with cameras exclusively for the commercial pro market. But with full frame now anticipated to drop further in price, there will come a point where the division between pro and advanced amateur DSLR models will become blurred, as has happened in the middle to low range DSLR race, where coming amateur and advanced amateur models will also blur those lines.
Micro Four/Thirds
What might further confuse the buying public is the announcement of the latest digital camera format—the so-called Micro Four/Thirds system. Olympus Imaging and Panasonic announced this “new standard” in early August that is said to give “dramatic reductions in size and weight.” The reasoning behind this was stated in a joint communiqué from the companies. It stated, “The global market for interchangeable lens type digital SLR cameras is growing steadily, but still only accounts for a 7 percent share of the total digital camera market. Considering the much larger share held by interchangeable lens type SLR camera systems when film was the dominant imaging medium, it seems that there is still ample room for sales growth in the category. But compact digital cameras continue to offer an expanding range of features and performance, and market surveys indicate that customers choose compact models because they find digital SLR cameras to be big, heavy, and difficult to operate.”
This system, according to the release, is said to be a “radically more compact and lightweight interchangeable lens type digital camera systems based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard. Together with the existing range of Four Thirds System products, the new range of Micro Four Thirds System products will enable customers to enjoy true interchangeable lens type digital camera system performance.” What are the supposed benefits?
According to the companies, when compared to the Four Thirds System standard, the primary distinguishing characteristics of the Micro Four Thirds System standard are: approximately 50 percent shorter flangeback distance (mount-to-sensor distance): 6mm smaller lens mount outer diameter; and electrical contacts in mount increased from 9 to 11. Oddly, the image sensor remains the same size in both “standard” and “micro” systems. The result is said to be even more compact bodies and powerful lenses, on both the long and short focal length range, plus even more automated functionality due to the increase in contacts between the lens and body. Users, it is said, will be able to mount their existing Four Thirds System lenses on Micro Four Thirds System bodies via an adapter.
Does the world need yet another digital camera system? While the mirror box assembly will be eliminated, thus separating it from SLR class consideration, perhaps the makers see the need for extending the point-and-shoot compact form factor with one that takes interchangeable lenses as well. While details beyond what I have reported are sketchy at best, we’ll surely see the classic “under glass” prototypes at the show in Cologne.
DSLR Video
Another development is the increased convergence of cameras into so-called “multimedia” devices. One large step is being taken with Nikon, who, with their D90 is (finally) bringing motion video to a DSLR camera. Equipped with three resolution levels and a built-in microphone, the quality of the video does not rival those produced with full-fledged camcorders, to say the least, but the step in this direction has been anticipated for some time and should appeal to those for whom video is a clip type activity rather than a full-time passion. Go up to any sharing site of merit these days and you’ll see just how active video clip shooting has become. The D90 will, I think, appeal to both amateur and advanced amateur photographers plus, and this is a big plus, to those who shoot more often for the Internet than not. The importance of this camera should not be understated, as it starts to bring in “new blood’ to the industry and recognizes the fact that the “Internet photographer” is becoming as important as, and will soon rival and surpass in size, those who shoot for prints. That’s a game changer on many, many levels, and should make all of us pause to think about the implications.
You “Synth” Therefore You Are
You can see this happening all around, from Adobe’s Express web-based applications to a new and rather amazing development from Microsoft they dub “synthing.” (not syn thing, but synthing, a new verb akin to “chimping.”) A synth is a world view based on the contextual relationship of subjects within a series of shots. Let’s say you enter a room. You take a picture of the full view of the room, and then move around the room shooting details. You dovetail the shots, like making a panorama, but instead of dealing with a linear or circular relationship among images you go in and out of the scene making images of details and different points of view. You might even make a scan of certain documents on the wall, like a school diploma, and incorporate that into your synth.
You then upload the images to the synth web site and, as they upload, a relationship among the images is created simultaneously by the software. Then, as you move around the “contact sheet” of the images different aspects emerge full screen. And, most amazingly, when you mouse around the full context shot (the room) various grids or boxes appear that you can then click on to reveal the other images, shot from different points of view or distances, and they become the full screen shot. You can even do a 360-degree shot of some objects; these appear with a sort of donut around them which you can then rotate to see different sides of the object.
Then there’s something called Tin Eye, a web-based service that actually finds image use on the ‘net via a unique “fingerprint” that each image creates (not EXIF data) and notifies the user of when and how their image has been used. The service uses advances in pattern recognition to differentiate, say, one picture of a sunflower from another, and claims to have over 700 million such fingerprints in its system. Right now the service is in beta form, but this will change how and where images are used on the sprawling web universe.
You might say that this is technology for its own sake, and as that it is impressive indeed. And I didn’t even get into geotagging and all the products that will be satellite and web-connected. But what all this points out is that the uses of the image, and the number of people who will be using photography and images for things we never imagined, is going to change radically and grow exponentially over the next few years. Those of us who stressed shooting for image quality for prints are going to be left in the dust; the new pioneers of imaging are making advances that can only leave us breathless and amazed. Once the image became information the game changed. Now that the web is becoming a major venue for imaging—its uses and applications–the game is set to change again.
